USB connector housing
A USB connector housing includes: a hollow main body; a guiding pin extending from the main body; and an engaging member extending from the main body and including a pair of opposite engaging pins adapted to extend through an engaging hole in a board. Each of the engaging pins has a leg portion extending from the main body, a body portion extending from the leg portion and adapted to abut against a hole defining wall of the engaging hole in the board, a neck portion extending from the body portion, and a head portion enlarged in cross-section from the neck portion. The head portion of each of the engaging pins has an anchor end adapted for anchoring at a periphery of the engaging hole in the board. The anchor end of the head portion has a width greater than those of the neck portion and the body portion.
This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 096106473, filed on Feb. 26, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a USB (Universal Series Bus) connector housing, more particularly to a USB connector housing including an engaging pin that has a head portion for anchoring at a periphery of a hole in a board, and a body portion abutting against a hole-defining wall of the hole in the board.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
The board 103 is formed with a plurality of mounting holes 104 for mounting the USB connector housing 100 thereto. The USB connector housing 100 includes a main body 11, a flat guiding pin 12 extending rearwardly from a rear end of the main body 11, and a bifurcated engaging member 13. The guiding pin 12 is adapted to extend through one of the mounting holes 104 in the board 103. The bifurcated engaging member 13 includes a pair of engaging pins 131 that cooperatively define a gap 132 therebetween. Each of the engaging pins 131 has a toothed outer side 133 for abutting against a hole-defining wall of one of the mounting holes 104 so as to secure firmly the USB connector housing 100 to the board 103.
Since frictional engagement between the engaging member 13 and the hole-defining wall of the mounting hole 104 is achieved through the toothed outer sides 133 of the engaging pins 131, the contact area provided by the toothed outer sides 133 is relatively small, which results in a decrease in the friction with the board 103, which, in turn, results in a poor connection between the USB connector housing 100 and the board 103. Hence, the USB connector housing 100 tends to disengage from the board 103 after a period of use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a USB connector housing that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.
According to the present invention, there is provided a USB connector housing that is adapted to be connected to a board which has front and rear sides and which is formed with a guiding hole and an engaging hole. The USB connector housing comprises: a hollow main body having a rear open end; a guiding pin extending rearwardly from the rear open end of the main body and adapted to extend through the guiding hole in the board; and an engaging member extending rearwardly from the rear open end of the main body and including a pair of opposite engaging pins adapted to extend through the engaging hole in the board and to abut against a hole-defining wall of the engaging hole. Each of the engaging pins has a free end distal from the rear open end of the main body, inner and outer lateral sides extending rearwardly from the rear open end of the main body to the free end, a leg portion extending rearwardly from the rear open end of the main body and adapted to be disposed at the front side of the board, a body portion extending rearwardly from the leg portion and adapted to abut against the hole defining wall of the engaging hole, a neck portion extending rearwardly and reduced in cross-section from the body portion, and a head portion extending rearwardly and enlarged in cross-section from the neck portion, tapered therefrom to the free end, and adapted to be disposed at the rear side of the board. The inner lateral sides of the engaging pins face each other and cooperatively define a gap therebetween. The neck portion of each of the engaging pins cooperates with the head portion and the body portion to define a recess indented from the outer lateral side. The head portion of each of the engaging pins has an anchor end opposite to the free end and adapted for anchoring at a periphery of the engaging hole in the board. The anchor end of the head portion has a width between the inner and outer lateral sides greater than those of the neck portion and the body portion.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to
In this embodiment, the outer lateral side 413 of the body portion 415 of each of the engaging pins 41 is straight. The guiding pin 30 has a first segment 33 extending rearwardly from the rear open end 22 of the main body 20 and adapted to be disposed at the front side of the board 80, a second segment 32 extending rearwardly and enlarged in cross-section from the first segment 33 and adapted to abut against a hole-defining wall of the guiding hole 81, and a third segment 31 extending rearwardly and tapered in cross-section from the second segment 32 and having a free end 311 adapted to be disposed at the rear side of the board 80.
The engaging pins 41 of each of the engaging members 40 are opposite to each other in a transverse direction relative to the length of the respective engaging member 40. The anchor ends 4171 of the head portions 417 of the engaging pins 41 are misaligned along the transverse direction. The arrangement as such permits mounting of the USB connector housing 200 to boards 80 having different thicknesses, as best illustrated in
By forming the anchor end 4171 on each engaging pin 41 of each engaging member 40 of the USB connector housing 200 of this invention, the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A USB connector housing adapted to be connected to a board which has front and rear sides and which is formed with a guiding hole and an engaging hole, said USB connector housing comprising:
- a hollow main body having a rear open end;
- a guiding pin extending rearwardly from said rear open end of said main body and adapted to extend through the guiding hole in the board; and
- an engaging member extending rearwardly from said rear open end of said main body and including a pair of opposite engaging pins adapted to extend through the engaging hole in the board and to abut against a hole-defining wall of the engaging hole, each of said engaging pins having a free end distal from said rear open end of said main body, inner and outer lateral sides extending rearwardly from said rear open end of said main body to said free end, a leg portion extending rearwardly from said rear open end of said main body and adapted to be disposed at the front side of the board, a body portion extending rearwardly from said leg portion and adapted to abut against the hole defining wall of the engaging hole, a neck portion extending rearwardly and reduced in cross-section from said body portion, and a head portion extending rearwardly and enlarged in cross-section from said neck portion, tapered therefrom to said free end, and adapted to be disposed at the rear side of the board, said inner lateral sides of said engaging pins facing each other and cooperatively defining a gap therebetween, said neck portion of each of said engaging pins cooperating with said head portion and said body portion to define a recess indented from said outer lateral side, said head portion of each of said engaging pins having an anchor end opposite to said free end and adapted for anchoring at a periphery of the engaging hole in the board, said anchor end of said head portion having a width between said inner and outer lateral sides greater than those of said neck portion and said body portion.
2. The USB connector housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer lateral side of said body portion of each of said engaging pins is straight.
3. The USB connector housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding pin has a first segment extending rearwardly from said rear open end of said main body and adapted to be disposed at the front side of the board, a second segment extending rearwardly and enlarged in cross-section from said first segment and adapted to abut against a hole-defining wall of the guiding hole, and a third segment extending rearwardly and tapered in cross-section from said second segment and having a free end adapted to be disposed at the rear side of the board.
4. The USB connector housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging pins are opposite to each other in a transverse direction relative to the length of said engaging member, said anchor ends of said head portions of said engaging pins being misaligned along the transverse direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2008
Inventors: Chih-Ming Lin (Taichung), Chin-Tsai Shih (Tai-Ping City)
Application Number: 11/882,534
International Classification: H01R 13/648 (20060101);